On September 19, 2023, a remarkable day in my son’s future and in my life, I stand as a proud father. My son has transformed into an outstanding Airman and an American Citizen.
My Airman, My Man, My Son
The Meaning of Family
For us, the words family, immigration, immigrant, future, hope, courage, sacrifice, and emotions all share one singular meaning and goal: to provide our children with a brighter future.
Milestone Achieved
Today, after enduring countless trials, my son achieved two significant milestones. He earned his American Citizenship and graduated from the Air Force’s Basic Military Training (BMT). Words fail to capture the depth of my emotions. I was rendered speechless, tears welled up in my eyes, and my heart swelled with an overwhelming sense of pride and love.
The Essence of Being Human
You might wonder why I’m sharing this on a blog that is typically professional in nature. To me, being alive and human is the essence of living. My life’s success has many facets, and one of them is fulfilling my role as a father. I believe that when I do my part, God takes care of the rest. Throughout my life, I’ve strived to please God and support my family with the gifts, opportunities, and dedication He provided. When I witness my son taking these monumental steps in his life, it feels akin to Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon.
The Importance of Support
In my life coaching, I always emphasize the importance of having a support system, and family plays a vital role in that circle of support. Whether it’s a spouse, parents, siblings, they form a crucial part of the support network that helps you face your worst fears and bolster your resilience to overcome life’s challenges.
Empowerment through Sacrifice
I cannot overstate how empowered I feel by my son’s achievements. One of the reasons I left my home country was to offer him the opportunity for a brighter future, to become the man he aspired to be, to initiate his journey toward self-empowerment, and to lay the foundation for his future and that of his family to come. All the sacrifices we endured now hold profound meaning. This is what we hoped for, what we envisioned, and what I wrote about in my previous posts. Resilience means maintaining hope, armed with a positive attitude, courage, adaptability, and the ability to cope with each new chapter while surrounded by a support system. My wife has been one of my biggest supporters throughout my life. She has been there since our first meeting, and now, 24 years later, our love and respect are as strong as ever. She’s the shoulder I lean on when I’m weary.
Blogging as Life Experience
My blog posts are not mere tasks; they are experiences distilled into words, with the hope that they will someday inspire someone to make the right decisions in areas where I’ve both failed and succeeded. I hope that individuals will take what resonates with their own life situations.
Embracing Life’s Shortness
This is part of my life’s purpose, an integral aspect of who I am.
Life is fleeting, and bottling up our emotions serves no purpose. It’s perfectly acceptable, as a man, to shed tears in profoundly touching moments and to express our feelings openly. It’s okay to tell those you love that you do, indeed, love them. Life is often shorter than we realize, and it’s heartbreaking when people miss the chance to express their feelings toward their loved ones.
A Heartfelt Plea
So, I urge all men to seize the moment. Embrace your wife, husband, son, daughter, mother, or father today. Give them a heartfelt hug and a loving kiss to convey your gratitude and love. Let them know they mean the world to you and that everything you’ve done is a testament to your love for them.
Be with them now, today. Don’t delay it for tomorrow, as we never know when we or our loved ones might be called to eternal rest. This isn’t drama; it’s life. As a father and a life coach, I implore all men to embrace their emotions, express their love, and let their tears reshape the world for their loved ones.
Celebrating My Son’s Achievement
With profound love and overwhelming emotions, I am now heading to celebrate my son’s graduation from the Air Force’s Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
Tomorrow, September 20th, 2023 I will embrace my son, my young man, my Airman, and I will wash his handsome uniform with tears of pride and love.
Romeo
